GPS for Marocco advice needed please
 

Hi, I am going to Marocco in March to compete in the Tuareg Rallye in a 4x4 and am not sure of the ideal GPS setup to use. A chartplotter with a big screen would be ideal but would need to take a map such as Olafs Maroc Topo however I cant get a Garmin chartplotter that will take the map (they seem to be write protected). Another thought is a laptop such as a toughbook..... how do I get it to have na GPS areil etc etc help please if you can.... Ben

Ben
a free solution / suggestion if in a vehicle

you could use a notebook with NRoute software loaded (free on Garmin site)
Load Olaf's Maroc map
Connect any gps to your notebook
and you will have moving map display :thumbup1:
you will need to seriously anchor the notebook if you are going to be bouncing around!

Ram Mount is a good system for securing the notebook PC. The US website has the best pictures, but order from the UK.

Hi all,
nRoute has been removed from Garmins site, but is available here

Nroute

I might have to give it a try, more for the novalty that anything else.
Do you know how you would get Olaf's Topo map into it? I'm already running it in Mapsource and on my 60cx, but does it just appear in nroute when gps is connected or does it need installing again specifically for nroute?

Happy travels
Sam

Update....

Firstly, appologies for my lazyness, asking a question before i'd really tried to find the answer!

When you install nRoute, all the maps you had already loaded into Mapsource appear automatically.
Note, in my case they were all free (not locked at any point) maps - Olaf etc etc.

It looks good actually. The screen on my eeePc 901 looks way too small to be usefull at first, but i believe you can remove the info tabs at the bottom which would free up some space to view the map. If you can still use the gps screen on the compass and/or trip computer page and the notebook screen just for the map, it could be a good little solution if you're into that sort of thing - not sure if i am or not!
I'll have a play with it in Morocco and report back.

Sam

nRoute will not work with a non Garmin GPS unless you fool it with something like GPSGate.

I use an old Laptop on a RAM mount with a Garmin Bluetooth GPS running Olaf and nRoute which is not only one the cheapest ways to get a Garmin it also means no wires, it also came with City Navigator Europe which was great to practice with in the UK.

Sounds like I can download nRoute then onto my eeepc then and run olafs map through it? Any ideas please on how to get a GPS signal into my eeepc? Cheers Ben

Guess your EEE has bluetooth so this would work Garmin Bluetooth GPS 10x Receiver but not give you the backup of "proper" GPS if anything broke.

With my Garmin 60cx, i just plugged it in to my eeePc with any old USB lead.
For Nroute, you must first have mapsource installed on the pc, which will have Olaf's map loaded into it. Then, when you install Nroute, the map will be there automatically.
Nroute will not work if you do not have Mapsource already.

Great, Ill give it a try on Monday night. Thanks for your help!

Well we've tried it tonight and it does work! Does anyone know how sturdy an eeepc is? I suspect i will try to mount it with a rubber / foam support bracket but are they sturdy ish?

Mine was pretty sturdy, but I never had it running on the move. Hopefully you've got one with flash memory (instead of HDD)?

I haven't really given mine a tough time yet, but i haven't heard any horror stories from others either.
Mount it well, and it should be fine.
The SSD (rather than normal hard drive) is important if it'll be powered up on the move.
I'll report back in March when i've given mine a bit more of a workout!

The screens are a little fragile on those EEE's as I found out to my expense

I used an old HP laptop with a normal Hard Drive without any proplems and it took a real bashing on the Pistes.

Hi again Matthew,
Was it powered up at the time?

Sam

Hello Sam

Yes it was, I know of various others who have used similar old Laptops without any problems, their Hard Drives don't seem to die easy. :)

Thanks, that's good to know
I guess i worry too much!!

Hi Ben - I'm not sure how much use mapping software will be to you on the Tuareg Rally, or if it is even allowed in the regulations?

Basically you will be using a roadbook/IMO/Terratrip combination for navigation, the only GPS 'requirements' are the ability to show a list of waypoints/check points that you have to pass by as part of the route.

As long as you have a GPS unit with a USB connector, and that recognises their software/data uploads - you should be fine... there is nothing worse than having to manually enter dozens of lat/long coordinates, then manually put them into a route list each day...

Ideally, you want a GPS that has a compass screen too, as alot of the Tuareg is held out in the dunes where there are no trails/pistes to follow, let along mapped 'roads'...

Most people use something like a Garmin 60 series, or even the Etrex (which are fine, if a little fiddly to use as the buttons are on the side) - I'd say you really want a dedicated 'outdoor' type GPS unit like that, one that is shock and water proof, runs on Batteries as well as the vehicle's 12v power, and basically is a Garmin, as the software uploads work with that software system...

Have fun out there!

Jenny xx

ps. As Tim suggests, a Ram mount is good and cost-effective way to mount the unit on the dash - and do use a 12v power lead from the vehicle's battery, as AA batteries can/will bounce/vibrate and end up carboning over the battery terminals, which you'll have to keep cleaning - not want you want on a rally... use the AAs for back-up, or when away from the vehicle...

edit. ah, just noticed you're in a 4x4, but the info still applies - do check with the Orga if you are allowed to use mapping software on the event...